THE MARLBOROUGH CHURCH OF ENGLAND SCHOOL in Oxfordshire, Woodstock

Education Centre Information: The Marlborough Church of England School:

Establishment Type:Voluntary Controlled School
Phase of Education: Secondary
Status: Closed
Local Authority: Oxfordshire
Reason Establishment Closed: Academy Converter
Establishment Close Date: 30/09/2012
Boarders: No Boarders
Sixth Form: Has a sixth form
Urban/Rural Description: Town and Fringe - less sparse
Special Classes: No Special Classes
Religious Character: Church of England
Diocese: Diocese of Oxford
Nursery Provider: No Nursery Classes
Total Pupils: 1061
Number of boys: 555
Number of girls: 506
Admissions: Comprehensive
Age Range: 11-18
Gender: Mixed
View inspection reports

Special Educational Needs:

SEN Priority 1:PD - Physical Disability
SEN Priority 2:SLCN - Speech, language and Communication
SEN Priority 3:Autistic Spectrum Disorder

Background:

The Marlborough Church of England School was opened in 1940 and for the first 30 years was a small country secondary modern. Became a comprehensive in 1970 and its sixth form was established in 1975. Since then the school has doubled in size. It serves a rural area with 90 per cent of pupils being bussed or coming by car. It serves nine primary schools but currently about a third of pupils come from outside the catchment area. The 11-16 age pupils from the Ormerod Special School are sited at Marlborough and these enjoy inclusion in the curriculum, on visit, in productions and in every aspect of the life of the school. Recently awarded Business and Enterprise Status jointly with Humanities (English). Considerable new building opened in last three years with new English, mathematics and sixth form block. Plans are for a new school hall and business centre to be opened late 2005. School is found on the edge of Woodstock and has significant open and sports area. Students follow the national curriculum throughout their compulsory stage of education but the school boasts several curriculum initiatives. It was a leading school in the development of vocational courses both at Advanced and GCSE level and currently delivers such courses in six curriculum areas. The elective programme is unique in that all 11-16 students follow an alternative curriculum every Wednesday afternoon, pupils choose three electives a year, one from sports and recreation, (includes skating, skiing, sailing as well as more traditional sports), one from curriculum enrichment (art, drama, information and communication technology, field work groups) and one from community (includes D of E, community work, yearbook). Pupils have also many opportunities in cross-curricular projects such as schools in action, world of work and Comenius projects. The school has one numerous county awards in schools in action and last year won a national crimebeat award. Its Comenius partners are from Germany and Belgium and the school has links with schools in Paris and Cologne for language exchanges. Pupils also have many opportunities for visits in many curriculum areas, including music tours (recently Venice and Barcelona), Art tours (including Florence and Paris), history (Battlefields and Berlin) and many other United Kingdom visits. The school prides itself on its community links and works with local agencies both in elective programme and curriculum. The pupils are responsible for the upkeep of War Graves in Woodstock commentary and work with British Legion. There is an annual charities day and monies are distributed to local and national charities as well as the provision of Christmas Dinners for local pensioners. Pupils' views are represented by a very active council known as Marlborough voice heard which representatives from every year group. The school aims to provide a stimulating, caring environment both within and outside the classroom.